Recent US-led bombardment in Venezuela and the detention of its president have renewed apprehension regarding Washington's designs on Greenland. Followers of the ex-president's base have reportedly turned their attention to the strategically important island in the wake of the operations in the southern hemisphere.
Inflammatory Messages and Official Backlash
Only hours after the start of the Venezuelan operation, a well-known right-wing commentator, who is the spouse of a high-ranking White House aide, shared a symbolic map. The picture depicted Greenland covered in the American flag, with the single-word message: "SOON."
This blatant suggestion to annex the resource-abundant region, which is a part of the NATO alliance, provoked immediate and strong criticism from Danish officials.
"We are close allies and should keep cooperate as such. US security is equally the Arctic's and our security," declared the Copenhagen's envoy to the United States. "Our nation and the United States collaborate to ensure security in the Arctic."
The ambassador further highlighted that the kingdom had significantly increased its military budget this year, allocating a large sum expressly for Arctic and North Atlantic security. "And yes, we expect complete recognition for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark," he emphasized.
Political Appointments and Strategic Goals
The situation were additionally exacerbated by the recent naming of a Southern governor as a representative to Greenland. The governor had openly expressed gratitude to the commander-in-chief, stating it was an "honour" to work in a unpaid capacity to "make Greenland a part of the US."
Following the events in Venezuela, this envoy praised the administration's decisive move, linking it to the broader "war on drugs."
Ever since returning to office, the US president has consistently unnerved transatlantic partners with his expressed desire in Greenland. The territory is considered critically strategic for defence and potential mineral exploitation. It already hosts the most northerly US air base.
Refusing to Rule Out Force
In a significant television appearance, the president refused to exclude the resorting to armed action to gain control of Greenland. This stance comes amid intensifying global rivalry in the polar region. "I don't rule it out. I don't say I'm going to do it, but I don't rule out anything... We need Greenland very badly," he remarked.
He described Greenland as having a "tiny amount of people, which we’ll look after, and we’ll value them... But we need that for international security."
Mounting Tensions and Indigenous Opposition
In response to this constant "drumbeat" of intent, Denmark's security agency took the extraordinary step last month of labelling the United States as a "potential threat."
The leaders of Denmark and Greenland delivered a joint and stern rebuke: "We have said it very clearly before. Now we say it again... You must not annex other countries."
Surveys in Greenland reveals a complex picture. While a overwhelming percentage of the island's inhabitants desire independence from Denmark, there is simultaneously scant appetite to join the United States. The island has had the legal right to seek sovereignty for many years.
Analyst View: A Credible Threat?
Some analysts are now re-evaluating the likelihood of such a move. One policy analyst focusing in defence admitted she had once dismissed the sabre-rattling but was "now not so sure."
"Logistically, it would be feasible for the US to deploy a few hundred or a few thousand troops on Greenland, and it's not clear to me which power could intervene about it," she concluded.
